Best Aftermarket Radio/Stereo for GL450 2008
#51
Yes, it was for AM/FM. I purchased a cheap powered antenna which is mounted to the windshield behind the rear view mirror. Was able to tuck the wire into the headliner and run along the side post, under the dash and to the radio which has a the power lead for antennas -works good.
The factory GPS antenna works great using the adapter from AvinUSA.
The factory GPS antenna works great using the adapter from AvinUSA.
#52
Yes, it was for AM/FM. I purchased a cheap powered antenna which is mounted to the windshield behind the rear view mirror. Was able to tuck the wire into the headliner and run along the side post, under the dash and to the radio which has a the power lead for antennas -works good.
The factory GPS antenna works great using the adapter from AvinUSA.
The factory GPS antenna works great using the adapter from AvinUSA.
#54
Junior Member
Here's a silly question. If you have the Harmon-Kardon audio system will the speaker grills have their logo on them? How do you tell if you have this system, or not?
#55
I don't have the HK system, but believe the amp for it is located under the drivers seat. Maybe someone else can confirm.
#56
Here's a short video my 11 year son made of AVIN radio installed in the 2012 GL450.
Everything is working with the exception of mirroring to my I-Phone. As mentioned earlier, I'm using an external antenna stuck to the top of my windshield. My hotspot for WIFI connects instantly and using "AT&T Sierra ELEVATE 4G Mobile WIFI Hotspot MiFi Aircard 754S"
Everything is working with the exception of mirroring to my I-Phone. As mentioned earlier, I'm using an external antenna stuck to the top of my windshield. My hotspot for WIFI connects instantly and using "AT&T Sierra ELEVATE 4G Mobile WIFI Hotspot MiFi Aircard 754S"
Last edited by StephenPage; 08-17-2018 at 10:53 PM.
#57
Junior Member
Here's a short video my 11 year son made of AVIN radio installed in the 2012 GL450.
Everything is working with the exception of mirroring to my I-Phone. As mentioned earlier, I'm using an external antenna stuck to the top of my windshield. My hotspot for WIFI connects instantly and using "AT&T Sierra ELEVATE 4G Mobile WIFI Hotspot MiFi Aircard 754S"
Everything is working with the exception of mirroring to my I-Phone. As mentioned earlier, I'm using an external antenna stuck to the top of my windshield. My hotspot for WIFI connects instantly and using "AT&T Sierra ELEVATE 4G Mobile WIFI Hotspot MiFi Aircard 754S"
#58
#59
Super Member
Here's a short video my 11 year son made of AVIN radio installed in the 2012 GL450.
https://youtu.be/MVn22r4CR3U
Everything is working with the exception of mirroring to my I-Phone. As mentioned earlier, I'm using an external antenna stuck to the top of my windshield. My hotspot for WIFI connects instantly and using "AT&T Sierra ELEVATE 4G Mobile WIFI Hotspot MiFi Aircard 754S"
https://youtu.be/MVn22r4CR3U
Everything is working with the exception of mirroring to my I-Phone. As mentioned earlier, I'm using an external antenna stuck to the top of my windshield. My hotspot for WIFI connects instantly and using "AT&T Sierra ELEVATE 4G Mobile WIFI Hotspot MiFi Aircard 754S"
#60
#61
MBWorld Fanatic!
Stephen, can you explain what you mean about "zooming in"? In the video, I see your video being zoomed in on the dash, but the actual camera picture doesn't seem to move.
#63
The camera shows everything a lot closer than when using the factory radio. I'm not sure there's an adjustment on the new head unit to pan out so things don't look so large.
#64
MBWorld Fanatic!
That's weird, huh? I mean the camera still delivers the same "picture", you know? Strange. Hey, I got an idea - just to be sure it's not some type of optical illusion or something. If you want, let's check your field of view (left to right) compared to stock (mine). Measure backwards from the aft end of your bumper exactly 5'. Then stretch a tape measure perfectly perpendicular to your bumper and see how wide your field of vision is (how many "feet" of the tape measure you can see. The key in comparison will be the "exactly 5 feet" and "perpendicular".
#65
mount halo9
Sorry been busy, and now I went to take some pics and my camera battery was dying, so I took this ones as quick as possible... so have in mind I didn't have time to adjust, and the screen came out a little overblown...
My setup is, Alpine Halo 9 which has Apple CarPlay and I added, Surround view backup camera and Amazon Fire Stick... I will be adding a sub soon.
My setup is, Alpine Halo 9 which has Apple CarPlay and I added, Surround view backup camera and Amazon Fire Stick... I will be adding a sub soon.
#66
#67
Here's a short video my 11 year son made of AVIN radio installed in the 2012 GL450.
https://youtu.be/MVn22r4CR3U
Everything is working with the exception of mirroring to my I-Phone. As mentioned earlier, I'm using an external antenna stuck to the top of my windshield. My hotspot for WIFI connects instantly and using "AT&T Sierra ELEVATE 4G Mobile WIFI Hotspot MiFi Aircard 754S"
https://youtu.be/MVn22r4CR3U
Everything is working with the exception of mirroring to my I-Phone. As mentioned earlier, I'm using an external antenna stuck to the top of my windshield. My hotspot for WIFI connects instantly and using "AT&T Sierra ELEVATE 4G Mobile WIFI Hotspot MiFi Aircard 754S"
#68
0
that looks great. Did you retain all factory functions including the clock on the display and backup camera? I’ve seen pictures online where you can see the tire pressure and speedometer on the Alpine. Is that something you’ve been able to see after your install?
Sorry been busy, and now I went to take some pics and my camera battery was dying, so I took this ones as quick as possible... so have in mind I didn't have time to adjust, and the screen came out a little overblown...
My setup is, Alpine Halo 9 which has Apple CarPlay and I added, Surround view backup camera and Amazon Fire Stick... I will be adding a sub soon.
My setup is, Alpine Halo 9 which has Apple CarPlay and I added, Surround view backup camera and Amazon Fire Stick... I will be adding a sub soon.
#69
Did you have to cut or splice into any of your GL's wires or does everything plug right in?
I'm very tempted to purchase this system but squeamish about messing with the factory wiring.
Thanks,
Peter
#70
My first post...just bought my wife a 2012 GL550, and looking to replace the oem head unit with the avinusa one. I have the same android unit in my Nissan Titan and I like everything about it. It's our first MB car so I'm still new to what I can do with it...it has the Harman Kardon system so I think I have to buy the interface adapter or whatever the thing is from avinusa to make everything work?
#71
In case anyone runs across this thread. I did install an AvinUSA head unit.
The pros:
1) Big.
2) Sounds great even without the Harmon Kardon amp.
3) Instant on.
4) Lots of apps available.
5) CANBUS functions work so no loss of steering wheel buttons or the display on the dash. However, I'm not sure how I'm going to set analog the clock now.
6) Backup camera works with their adapter. However, the view is huge and not sized for properly. Also the red and yellow guide lines are gone.
7) GPS picks up plenty of satellites with their adapter.
8) The factory mic for mobile calls works with their adapter.
9) I love the radio, but….
The cons:
1) No install or instruction manual provided.
2) ****ty customer support, either very slow or won't answer questions using their support email account. Must leave a voice mail if calling.
3) On the 2012 X164 there's no way for the factory antenna amp to work. They provide the correct blue wake-up wire, but the pin out doesn't match the factory CANBUS connector. I'm waiting on an adapter and will have to use an aftermarket antenna.
The pros:
1) Big.
2) Sounds great even without the Harmon Kardon amp.
3) Instant on.
4) Lots of apps available.
5) CANBUS functions work so no loss of steering wheel buttons or the display on the dash. However, I'm not sure how I'm going to set analog the clock now.
6) Backup camera works with their adapter. However, the view is huge and not sized for properly. Also the red and yellow guide lines are gone.
7) GPS picks up plenty of satellites with their adapter.
8) The factory mic for mobile calls works with their adapter.
9) I love the radio, but….
The cons:
1) No install or instruction manual provided.
2) ****ty customer support, either very slow or won't answer questions using their support email account. Must leave a voice mail if calling.
3) On the 2012 X164 there's no way for the factory antenna amp to work. They provide the correct blue wake-up wire, but the pin out doesn't match the factory CANBUS connector. I'm waiting on an adapter and will have to use an aftermarket antenna.
4) I haven’t found a way for the the WIFI to automatically connect to the hotspot from my i-phone. Each time I turn the radio on it I have to open the Settings >Hotspot on my phone, then open Settings > WIFI on the head unit. Bluetooth connects automatically if I have something playing on the phone using Bluetooth.
5) Mirroring from the i-phone doesn’t work and pops an error on the screen the “software has not been legally authorized”.
5) Mirroring from the i-phone doesn’t work and pops an error on the screen the “software has not been legally authorized”.
- FM/AM not working: I suspect it is because the antenna amplifier is not powered up. The AVIN recommendation to connect the AMP CON to ANT blue wires won't work in my case. The terminal in the Quadlock is empty on the car harness. I suspect that the antenna amplifier is powered by the CAN BUS. See the attached pinout https://www.mercedes-forum.com/attac...2-5-pdf.38204/ PIN 13 is empy. See my photos
Blue Antenna power going to PIN 13.
Car quadlock PIN 13 is empty
- Altough you can plug in the dual white FAKRA antenna cable the AVIN conenctor has only one terminal wired. It means one of the antenna cables end no where.
Two antenna cables in the double FAKRA connector. But only one has terminal in AVIN
- Can not set OEM clock: I have found a thread giving you options to set the OEM clock: You can unplug and re-insert the instrument cluster fuse at 12:00 or you can change the instrument cluster configuration to work without NAvigation system. This is the thread I found: https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...-solution.html
- On my car the OEM microphone does not have a FAKRA connector. The microphone is part of the harness in the Quadlock connector. I made a simple connection between AVIN Quadlock and the MIC in.
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Connection between AVIN Quadlock and Mic input to connect OEM mic to AVIN
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funkypost (12-30-2019)
#73
#74
My first post...just bought my wife a 2012 GL550, and looking to replace the oem head unit with the avinusa one. I have the same android unit in my Nissan Titan and I like everything about it. It's our first MB car so I'm still new to what I can do with it...it has the Harman Kardon system so I think I have to buy the interface adapter or whatever the thing is from avinusa to make everything work?
#75
I was able to get the AVIN HU to work with the OEM Antenna.
The OEM antenna connector is a white double FAKRA connector. Only one of the two terminals is present in the HU connector. It drops one cable. So I swapped the two cables in the connector.
The radio is working perfectly.
I assume that either the one cable is dead or used for other FM ranges or something.
The OEM antenna connector is a white double FAKRA connector. Only one of the two terminals is present in the HU connector. It drops one cable. So I swapped the two cables in the connector.
The radio is working perfectly.
I assume that either the one cable is dead or used for other FM ranges or something.